Modric to Madrid conclusion imminent

Luka Modric's long-protracted move from Tottenham to Real Madrid is set to be rubber-stamped in the next 48 hours - after Spurs chairman Daniel Levy finally ratified a transfer that has rumbled on all summer.

Madrid officials, who have grown tired of their exhaustive wrangling with Levy, privately suspect he was using rumours of Chelsea's renewed interest in Modric as a tool to raise the selling price of the Croatia playmaker.

Yet Modric is preparing to fly to the Spanish capital to complete his medical and finalise a move that was mistakenly flagged up on the official Real Madrid website in an embarassing error earlier this week.

Bernabeu officials quickly removed the post suggesting Modric was aready part of their first-team squad, but they should be able to re-publish the article in the next couple of days.

Meanwhile, Shakhtar Donetsk star Willian could still end up at Tottenham in the next few days, even after Spurs boss Andre Villas-Boas claimed he would not be signing a player.

The Spurs boss claims "he is closed on the attacking situation" after securing the services of Emmanuel Adebayor earlier this week, but sources have confirmed talks are still on-going between Shahktar and the Premier League club.

Willian's £20 million price tag is a sticking point that has yet to be resolved, but Modric's imminent move to La Liga may free up funds for Villas-Boas to embark on a final flourish in this transfer window, with fellow Brazilian hit-man Leandro Damiao also on the club's summer wish list.

Tottenham's chase for a striker has fuelled speculation about the future of Jermain Defoe and, even though Villas-Boas insists he will stay at White Hart Lane, QPR and Aston Villa are among the clubs ready to pounce England striker.